The Motorsport Thread - 2012

Sergio Pérez has been signed by McLaren for the next year. Big time for him!

Snow Dog wrote: ^That news is a bit old. But seriously, I think Lewis is making a big mistake. McLaren is surely  the way to a  world championship. And what of Shumacher now? Retirement? A sad end if so but a minor team would also be  awful....

Blimey, I go away to the Summers End Festival for weekend and it's all change in F1. Hamilton is almost certainly writing off next year for a title tilt and betting on Merc getting it right in 2014 with the new regulations, where engine development will be freeed up and only the works teams will have the newest spec engines at each race, simply because development would be too quick to support the customers with equal machinery, and McLaren is a customer now.

As for Schumi, I haven't seen anything specifically saying what he would be doing now. It was mentioned a month ago that he might end up in a managerial role at Merc, which would be a surprise, or he could move over to the DTM series. Outside chance of him going to another team, though his manager was seen at Singapore having a long, public, chat with the Sauber bosses, who suddenly have a seat free.

As for Perez, excellent move for him, I can see him winning races and being a title challenger next year. Ferrari's insistance that he wasn't ready for a top team (utter rubbish) has probably cost them the best driver on their development scheme. I expect that they'll probably keep Massa now because of there astonishing level of concervatism and lack of imagination, unless they really want Hulkenberg. Talk that they can't see any one else available who would definitely do a better job than Massa just shows they have their eyes shut. 

Oh sh*t, imagine Kimi to Ferrari!
I would pretty much be in heaven with my favorite 2 drivers there, and he has more than proven himself. I believe he has one more year with Lotus. Maybe they use Massa as another year of seat filler until they bring Kimi on board?

I can dream ok

sleeper wrote: Blimey, I go away to the Summers End Festival for weekend and it's all change in F1. Hamilton is almost certainly writing off next year for a title tilt and betting on Merc getting it right in 2014 with the new regulations, where engine development will be freeed up and only the works teams will have the newest spec engines at each race, simply because development would be too quick to support the customers with equal machinery, and McLaren is a customer now. As for Schumi, I haven't seen anything specifically saying what he would be doing now. It was mentioned a month ago that he might end up in a managerial role at Merc, which would be a surprise, or he could move over to the DTM series. Outside chance of him going to another team, though his manager was seen at Singapore having a long, public, chat with the Sauber bosses, who suddenly have a seat free. As for Perez, excellent move for him, I can see him winning races and being a title challenger next year. Ferrari's insistance that he wasn't ready for a top team (utter rubbish) has probably cost them the best driver on their development scheme. I expect that they'll probably keep Massa now because of there astonishing level of concervatism and lack of imagination, unless they really want Hulkenberg. Talk that they can't see any one else available who would definitely do a better job than Massa just shows they have their eyes shut.

JJLehto wrote: NICO! Damn it Ferrari take Nico! He's earned his due. 6 years under his belt by seasons end, has proven to be consistent and quick when in good equipment, I really think he's deserving of a better ride. Which IMO is a conservative position, if they wanna take some young blood...now that Perez is out what about Kam? Hulkenberg would be a risky but probably good choice as well. What about Grosjean? Di Resta? All are young drivers who I think have shown at least enough speed to warrant a pick. Ferrari's mindset here really is baffling! Anyone think part of Hami's move is leftover bad blood from 2011? Was there even any real bad blood? I said it then, it's near impossible to have two #1s.

Rosberg? He signed a long term contract with Merc last year/ early this year.

The problem with Ferrari it seems is the continued rumours that Vettel has an option with them for 2014 to line up next to Alonso. I've read that Di Resta was in talks to replace Massa earlier this year but the problem is that there's only a 1 year contract being offered, and that applies to anybody else as well.

Off the top of my head I'd say Schumacher (96-06), Barrichello (00-05), Massa (06-12), Jean Alesi (91-95), Gerhard Berger (87-89, 93-5), Gilles Viellneuve (78-82).

Enzo Ferrari was notoriously prickly to deal with and drivers would tend to only spend a few years there before either being fired or getting fed up and leaving. Of course there were other favorites like Alberto Ascari, Wolgang von Trips and Viellneuve himself, that died behind the wheel of a Ferrari before they need to leave turned up (though Viellneuve would likely have left at the end of the 82 season anyway, and probably would have taken the title with him to McLaren).

Schumacher has officially anounced he will retire, again, at the end of the year today.

I think he's proven whatever he wanted to prove?
Still time to grab one final win though!

Suzuka always a great track, excited. Final quarter of the season coming up, this is it gents. Champs are made when the pressure is on...things are still so close can anyone turn it on and seal the deal?

Good pole from Vettel, nobody was going to beat him. Shame about Button's penalty, he was the closest one to getting on terms with the Red Bulls today. Excellent job by Kobayashi, 3rd on the grid is the highest ever starting position in Japan for a Japanese driver, and I reckon he could stay there in the race.